Richard Riot
The Richard Riot was a
On March 17, Campbell appeared at the Montreal Forum for the Canadiens' first game after Richard's suspension. His presence provoked a riot at the Forum that spilled into the streets. The riot caused an estimated $100,000 in property damage, thirty-seven injuries, and 100 arrests. Tensions eased after Richard made a personal plea accepting his punishment and promising to return the following year to help the team win the Stanley Cup. The incident likely cost Richard the 1954–55 scoring title (a feat Richard never achieved in his NHL career), played a role in the off-season departure of longtime Canadiens head coach Dick Irvin, and was a precursor to the Quiet Revolution.
Background
During the 1950s, Quebec's industries and natural resources were controlled primarily by English Canadians or Americans.
Incident
On March 13, 1955, an on-ice episode sparked one of the worst incidents of hockey-related violence in history.
Boston police attempted to arrest Richard in the dressing room after the game ended, but were turned back by Canadiens players who barred the door, preventing any arrest. Bruins management finally persuaded the officers to leave with a promise that the NHL would handle the issue. Richard was never arrested for the incident.[25] He was instead sent to the hospital by team doctors after complaining of headaches and stomach pains.[26]
The Laycoe incident was Richard's second altercation with an official that season,[6][20] after having slapped a linesman in the face in Toronto the previous December, for which he was fined $250.[20] Upon hearing the referee's report, league president Clarence Campbell ordered all parties to appear at a March 16 hearing at his office in Montreal.[27]
Hearing
The game's on-ice officials, Richard, Laycoe, Montreal assistant general manager Ken Reardon, Boston general manager Lynn Patrick, Montreal coach Dick Irvin, and NHL referee-in-chief Carl Voss attended the March 16 hearing. In his defence, Richard contended that he was dazed and thought Thompson was one of Boston's players. He did not deny punching or attacking Laycoe.[7]
After the hearing, Campbell issued a 1200-word statement to the press:
…I have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the attack on Laycoe was not only deliberate but persisted in the face of all authority and that the referee acted with proper judgment in awarding a match penalty. I am also satisfied that Richard did not strike linesman Thompson as a result of a mistake or accident as suggested … Assistance can also be obtained from an incident that occurred less than three months ago in which the pattern of conduct of Richard was almost identical, including his constant resort to the recovery of his stick to pursue his opponent, as well as flouting the authority of and striking officials. On the previous occasion he was fortunate that teammates and officials were more effective in preventing him from doing injury to anyone and the penalty was more lenient in consequence. At the time he was warned there must be no further incident … The time for probation or leniency is past. Whether this type of conduct is the product of temperamental instability or willful defiance of the authority in the games does not matter. It is a type of conduct which cannot be tolerated by any player—star or otherwise. Richard will be suspended from all games both league and playoff for the balance of the current season.[28]
The suspension was the longest that Campbell issued during his thirty-one year tenure as league president. As there was no
However, the general feeling around the league was that the punishment could have been more severe. Detroit Red Wings general manager Jack Adams said that Campbell "could do no less" and "I thought he would be suspended until January 1 of next season." Red Wings forward Ted Lindsay, whom the league had disciplined earlier the same season for an incident in Toronto in which he attacked a Maple Leafs fan who had been threatening teammate Gordie Howe, expressed the stronger opinion that Richard was lucky not to get a life suspension: "In baseball, football or almost anything else that much would be almost automatic. I say they should have suspended him for life." Bruins president Walter A. Brown agreed with Adams, saying "That's the least they could do"; Bruins player Fleming Mackell said, "If they had thrown the book at Richard in 1947 when he cut Bill Ezinicki and Vic Lynn, it might have stopped him and made him an even greater hockey player because of it."[30] Interest was high in the hockey world; the Detroit Free Press reported its switchboard was swamped with calls.[31]
Riot
Public outrage from Montreal poured in about what residents felt was excessive punishment.
The game against Detroit was a battle for first place, but the suspension unsettled the Canadiens.[33] Goaltender Jacques Plante later recalled that the game seemed secondary, and players and officials were "casting worried glances at the sullen crowd".[32] Likewise, Dick Irvin said later, "The people didn't care if we got licked 100–1 that night."[37]
Midway through the first period, with Montreal already down 2–0,
The departing crowd joined the demonstrators, and a riot ensued outside the Forum.[34] Rioters were heard chanting "À bas Campbell" (Down with Campbell) and "Vive Richard" while they smashed windows, attacked bystanders, ignited newsstands, and overturned cars.[36][38][44] More than fifty stores within a fifteen-block radius of the Forum were looted and vandalized.[36][45] Twelve police officers and twenty-five civilians were injured.[46][47] The riot continued well into the night, eventually ending at three A.M., and it left Montreal's Saint Catherine Street in shambles.[42][48] Police estimated between forty-one and 100 individuals were arrested.[49][50][51] Damage was estimated to be $100,000 ($1,004,255 in 2021 dollars[52]) to the neighborhood and the Forum itself.[43] One jewelry store alone estimated its losses at $7,000 ($70,298 in 2021 dollars[52]).[44]
Adams blamed Montreal officials after the game: "If they hadn't pampered Maurice Richard, built him up as a hero until he felt he was bigger than hockey itself, this wouldn't have happened."[53]
The incident was national news in Canada. Reporters lined up to see both Campbell and Richard on March 18. Richard was reluctant to make a statement, fearing it could start another riot, but he eventually gave the following statement, both in French and English, over television to a national audience:[54]
Because I always try so hard to win and had my troubles in Boston, I was suspended. At playoff time it hurts not be in the game with the boys. However, I want to do what is good for the people of Montreal and the team. So that no further harm will be done, I would like to ask everyone to get behind the team and to help the boys win from the New York Rangers and Detroit. I will take my punishment and come back next year to help the club and the younger players to win the Cup.[55]
Campbell was unapologetic. He said that he considered it his duty as president to attend the game. Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau was livid at Campbell for attending, and he laid the blame for the riot on Campbell. A Montreal city councilor wanted Campbell arrested for inciting the riot.[56] Years later, Canadiens player Jean Béliveau stated that, although he disagreed with Campbell's decision to attend the game, as well as feeling Campbell might have been using his appearance to make a statement, he concluded that Campbell may have felt that if he did not attend he could appear to be hiding. He also noted that Campbell's absence might not have made much of a difference.[57]
Aftermath
The suspension came when Richard was leading the NHL in scoring and the Canadiens were battling Detroit for first place. Richard's suspension also cost him the 1954–55 scoring title, the closest he ever came to winning it. When Richard's teammate Bernie Geoffrion surpassed Richard in scoring by one point on the last day of the regular season, the Canadiens' fans booed him.[58]
The points from the forfeiture provided Detroit with the margin it needed to win first place overall and be guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. That season, the Canadiens lost the 1955 Stanley Cup Finals to Detroit in seven games, with the home team winning all seven games of a final for the first time.[58][59] Montreal won the next five consecutive Stanley Cups, a record that still stands. Richard retired in 1960 after the Canadiens' fifth consecutive Stanley Cup.[60]
The episode was a prelude to the off-season departure of coach Dick Irvin. Selke felt Irvin had riled Richard, thereby contributing to his "periodic eruptions". Selke offered Irvin a job for life with the Canadiens, as long as it was in a non-coaching capacity. Irvin refused Selke's offer and moved on to coach the Chicago Black Hawks, where he had begun his coaching career in 1930–31. He was replaced by former Canadiens player Toe Blake.[61] Irvin coached only one more season before succumbing to bone cancer.[62]
Historical interpretation
The Richard Riot has taken on a significance greater than a mere sports riot in the decades since it happened. The sight of French Quebecers rioting over the perceived slight to a Quebec cultural icon like Richard led many commentators to believe it was a significant factor in Quebec's Quiet Revolution of the 1960s.[8][63][64] Furthermore, the cause of the riot has been suggested not to be as a result of the severity of the suspension; what mattered was that the anglophone president of an anglophone league had suspended a Quebec player. French Canadians saw themselves as inherently disadvantaged within Canada and North America as a whole.[65] Richard was seen as a hero by French Canadians, and almost a sort of a "revenge" against the anglophone establishment.[66] The riot was a clear sign of rising ethnic tensions in Quebec.[67] In an article published four days after the riot, journalist André Laurendeau was the first to suggest the riot was a sign of growing nationalism in Quebec. Entitled "On a tué mon frère Richard" (My brother Richard has been killed), Laurendeau suggested the riot "betrayed what lay behind the apparent indifference and long-held passiveness of French Canadians".[66]
On the other hand, Benoît Melançon argues that the riot has become part of the "Rocket Richard myth" and has taken on an importance that, in retrospect, is far greater than it actually had when it happened. He asserts, "Had there been no Riot, it is doubtful there would ever have been a Maurice Richard myth."[68] The riot ended up taking on greater significance as time passed, but not for the reasons many nonacademic commentators believe. Richard was in danger of being forgotten in the years immediately after his retirement, so he promoted himself, and his nascent myth, excessively:
There were Maurice Richard skates and jackets, but there were also Rocket ashtrays, Rocket transistor radios, and Rocket Richard Condensed Tomato Soup. Moreover, these products changed throughout history. "The principal impact of the trade in Richard … has been the transformation of Maurice Richard into a product, then into a label, and ultimately into a myth."[69]
He concludes by suggesting that the riot is now something it was not: "The riot has become the key event in turning Richard from a mere hockey player to a symbol of political resistance (even if Richard himself was publicly apolitical and, according to this book, definitely not for an independent Quebec) … According to this popular narrative, for the first time the people of Quebec stood up for themselves; especially English Canada delights in anachronistically announcing that this was the beginning of the 1960s Quiet Revolution."[70] Perhaps the best way to explain how the interpretation of the riot changed is by looking at the change in the public perceptions of its antagonist: "It was necessary to overlook some of [Richard's] character traits and to rewrite several episodes of his career" in order to elevate him into a mythical figure.[71]
See also
- Bruins–Canadiens rivalry
- The Rocket (Maurice Richard) (film)
- 1954–55 Montreal Canadiens season
References
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 95
- ^ Falla 2008, p. 16
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 17
- ^ Jenish 2008, p. 121
- ^ Flatter, Ron. "The Rocket lit up hockey". ESPN. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Cole 2004, pp. 39–40
- ^ a b c Wheatley, W. B. (March 17, 1955). "Richard Barred for Season, Playoffs: May Sink Canadiens". Ottawa Citizen. Canadian Press. p. 23.
- ^ a b Farber, Michael (November 29, 1999). "Loud Start To The Quiet Revolution: March 17, 1955: The Riot Over Rocket Richard". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ^ Didinger & Macnow 2009, p. 160
- ^ Nadeau & Barlow 2006, p. 319
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 80
- ^ "Canada: Rise of the Separatists". Time. March 6, 1964. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
- ^ Gittings 2002, p. 105
- ^ Roles 2002, p. 58
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 120
- ^ James Deacon (2000). "Richard, Maurice". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 121
- ^ "10 Hockey Violence Lowlights". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 9, 2004. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ^ "Rocket Goes Wild at Boston, Clouts Laycoe, Linesman". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. March 14, 1955. p. 22.
- ^ a b c d e Fitzgerald, Tom (March 14, 1955). "Richard Stick Duels Laycoe, Fights With Official". Boston Globe. p. 6.
- ^ a b c Katz 1998, p. 107
- ^ United Press (March 14, 1955). "Richard is Banished as Canadiens Bow". The New York Times. p. 30.
- ^ Jenish 2008, p. 144
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (May 2, 1998). "Hal Laycoe, 75, NHL Player Whose High Stick Led to Riot". New York Times. p. B8. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ^ Jenish 2008, pp. 144–145
- ^ United Press (March 16, 1955). "Hockey Hearing to Start Today". New York Times. p. 48.
- ^ Katz 1998, p. 110
- ^ "Campbell Statement on Richard Censure". Montreal Gazette. March 17, 1955. p. 1.
- ^ "Many Threats Follow Word On Favorite". Montreal Gazette. March 17, 1955. p. 19.
- ^ "Richard is Lucky Didn't Get Life, says Ted Lindsay". The Globe and Mail. March 17, 1955. p. 31.
- ^ Curran, Pat (March 17, 1955). "School Sports Head Praises Campbell". Montreal Gazette. p. 19.
- ^ a b c d Denault 2009, p. 74
- ^ a b c Béliveau, Goyens & Turowetz 1994, p. 94
- ^ a b c Melançon 2009, p. 128
- ^ a b Canadian Press (March 18, 1980). "Rocket Richard Riot Still Stirs Controversy, Emotion". Windsor Star. p. 37. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. March 18, 1955. p. 21. Archived from the originalon January 16, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ Coleman 1970, p. 253
- ^ a b c d Morris, Mel (March 18, 1955). "Anti-Campbell Mobs Terrorize City". The Windsor Daily Star. Canadian Press. p. 10. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Richard Fans Go Mad". Ottawa Citizen. March 17, 1955. p. 60. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
- ^ "Montreal's Riot over Richard Campbell's Toughest Ordeal". Ottawa Citizen. July 7, 1984. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ a b MacDonald, D. A. L. (March 18, 1955). "Mob rule wrecks Forum, Game". Montreal Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved March 17, 2018 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ a b Jenish 2008, p. 147
- ^ a b "Riot ends game". The Globe and Mail. March 18, 1955. pp. 1, 23.
- ^ a b "Fear Stalks Downtown". The Windsor Daily Star. March 18, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- The Milwaukee Sentinel. March 18, 1955. Archived from the originalon January 16, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
- ^ Wallechinsky et al. 2005, p. 409
- ^ Croll, Bruce (March 18, 1955). "Innocent Injured in Riot". Montreal Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved March 17, 2018 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "The Legendary #9: Maurice 'Rocket' Richard: The 'Richard Riot'". CBC Archives. March 17, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
- ^ Hunt, Jim (March 18, 1955). "Montreal Cops Amazed No One Killed in Mad Violence After Game". Toronto Star. p. 59.
- ^ "All Quiet Riot's Smoke Clears". Ottawa Citizen. March 17, 1955. p. 61. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
- ^ McDonald, D.A.L. (March 18, 1955). "Mob Rule Wrecks Forum, Game". Montreal Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ a b 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ "They Make Him Think He's Bigger Than Game, Red Wing Boss Says". Toronto Star. Associated Press. March 18, 1955. p. 22.
- ^ "Suspended Star Appeals To Fans". Regina Leader-Post. March 19, 1955. p. 22.
- ^ "Get Behind Canadiens, Rocket asks". The Globe and Mail. March 19, 1955. p. 1.
- ^ Wheatley, W. B. (March 19, 1955). "Full Montreal Detective Force Called for NHL Game Tonight". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. p. 1.
- ^ Béliveau, Goyens & Turowetz 1994, pp. 94–95
- ^ a b Denault 2009, p. 76
- ^ Robinson, Alan (June 10, 2003). "E-Rupp-Tion—New Jersey Celebrates Third Cup with Big Lift from Little-Used Player". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. p. C1.
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 12
- ^ Jenish 2008, p. 150
- ^ Denault 2009, p. 77
- ^ "Media — Rocket Richard: The Legend, The Legacy". Civilization.ca. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ Falla 2008, p. 15
- ^ Rawlinson & Granatstein 1997, p. 336
- ^ a b Laurendeau, André (March 21, 1955). "On a tué mon frère Richard". Le Devoir (in French). p. 4.
- ^ Perrone, Julie (2007). "Maurice Richard, 1ère partie: le hockeyeur" (in French). Encyclopédie du patrimoine culturel de l'Amérique française.
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 115
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 58
- ^ Two Hockey Solitudes in the Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard (a review of Benoît Melançon. The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard) Reviewed by Jason Blake (University of Ljubljana), Published on H-Canada (August 2009) on H-Net Humanities & Social Sciences Online, http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=24872
- ^ Melançon 2009, p. 104
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- Coleman, Charles (1970). Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol III. Sherbrooke, PQ: Progressive Publications. ISBN 0-8403-2941-5.
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- Jenish, D'Arcy (2008). The Montreal Canadiens: 100 years of glory. Toronto, Ontario: Doubleday Canada. ISBN 978-0-385-66324-3.
- Katz, Sidney (1998). Canada on Ice: Fifty years of great hockey. Toronto, Ontario: MacLean Hunter Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-670-88037-X.
- Melançon, Benoît (2009). The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard. Vancouver, British Columbia: Greystone Books. ISBN 978-1-55365-336-3.
- Nadeau, Jean-Benoît; Barlow, Julie (2006). The Story of French. New York, New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-34184-8.
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- Roles, Julia (2002). Insight Guides Montreal & Quebec City. Maspeth, New York: APA Publications. ISBN 981-4120-43-X.
- Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Amy; Farrow, Jane; Basen, Ira (2005). The Book of Lists, The Canadian Edition: The Original Compendium of Curious Information. Toronto, Ontario: Alfred A. Knopf of Canada. ISBN 0-676-97720-0.
External links
- Video footage of the brawl, and the riot, inside and outside the Forum Archived March 1, 2022, at the Wayback Machine